Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas looks over at other bishops as he makes his way to the altar during his welcoming Mass to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

CHINO HILLS — Alberto Rojas, coadjutor bishop of San Bernardino, quoted scripture, Pope Francis, even Bob Dylan, as he spoke for the first time Monday, Feb. 24, before the region’s diverse Catholic community to drive home the message that God’s love has the power to heal divisions and unite all.

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas holds the Apostolic Mandate signed by Pope Francis, declaring Bishop Rojas to be the Coadjutor of San Bernardino, during his welcoming Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Roman Catholic clergies arrive to a welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Cardinal Blasé J. Cupich, center, and Cardinal Roger Mahony, left, arrive for a welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas looks over at other bishops as he makes his way to the altar during his welcoming Mass to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Parishioners sing during a welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas speaks during his welcoming Mass to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas, center, is surrounded by other Bishops during his welcoming Mass to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas speaks during his welcoming Mass to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Roman Catholic priests attend a welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Clergy members participate in the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A Bishop holds the Bible during the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Dancers perform during welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Bishops arrive in a procession during a welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Bishop Gerald Barnes, right, holds the Bible during the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Bishop Gerald Barnes, center, holds the Bible during the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Roman Catholic clergies arrive to the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Ceremonial guards march in a procession during the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas, center, folds his his bishop’s mitre during his welcoming Mass to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A Bishop holds the Bible during the welcoming Mass for Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas to the Diocese of San Bernardino at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Rojas, 54, will assist Bishop Gerald Barnes as the coadjutor bishop until Barnes anticipated retirement in June, when he turns 75. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The packed sanctuary, standing-room-only for the two-hour Mass, was filled with the fragrance of incense. More than 2,500 came clad in traditional costumes from Vietnamese ao-dais to Igbo (Nigerian) Isiagu tops. Children clad in white danced gracefully to choir music along the sanctuary’s aisles. The Knights of Columbus came in full regalia, holding their swords.

In contrast to the formality and ceremony around him, Rojas began his homily with a casual: “So, how are you?”

There was laughter.

Rojas continued to speak, maintaining his folksy tone, about his life’s mission — to spread God’s love. Rojas said he received the call to the priesthood as a 15-year-old boy in his native Aguascalientes, Mexico, where he joined the Seminary of Santa Maria de Guadalupe. He continued his seminary education in Illinois and was ordained as a priest in May 1994 and as a bishop in April 2011, both in Chicago, where much of his life has been based.

During his homily, Rojas talked about his recent meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican and the one question he asked the pontiff: “What are you most afraid of?” He said Francis had a quick, one-word answer for him: “Division.”

Rojas then explained that Francis went on to talk about how horrible division can be — among priests, families, cultures and nations.

“And then he said, division comes from the devil and unity comes from God.”

Rojas said his motto as bishop will be: “God’s love is all we need.”

“When this love is put to action, it looks like Jesus on the cross,” he said. “It looks like mercy, hospitality, charity, generosity, hope and respect among different cultures. That’s what God’s love means. United in this love of God, we can send a message that saves the world.”

Those who heard Rojas speak for the first time, in English and Spanish, said they were moved by his message.

“I teared up because it was personal,” said Jennifer Lopez of San Bernardino. “Our country is so divided right now and his message gave me hope. He speaks as if he’s your friend and I really liked that.”

His message in Spanish means a lot to the Hispanic community, said Jose Luis, who works in the diocese’s Department of Life, Dignity and Justice.

“I’m an immigrant from Mexico and I felt like he spoke to me,” he said. “His tone was friendly not theological or dogmatic. What he said means a lot because it shows me that he is willing to journey with us.”

David Okonkwo, who leads the diocese’s Catholics of African Descent ministry, said he likes the bishop’s sense of inclusiveness. The top spiritual challenge for African Catholics is to find a way to worship in their own language, he said.

“I get the sense that this bishop will work with us to meet these types of challenges,” Okonkwo said.

Linda Kramer, a parishioner at St. Paul, said she was moved by Rojas’s speech.

“I liked the part where he said Jesus is knocking on our door and it’s our choice whether or not to open that door,” she said. “He made me feel like he is going to be a bishop for the whole diocese.”

There were also several who came to the special Mass from Chicago. Christina Alfaro was one of the visitors.

“I view (Rojas) as a family friend, and I’ve known him for 20 years,” she said. “He is a very humble man, treats everyone like a family member or friend. We’re going to miss him a lot in Chicago.”

Deepa Bharath covers religion for The Orange County Register and the Southern California Newspaper Group. Her work is focused on how religion, race and ethnicity shape our understanding of what it is to be American and how religion in particular helps influence public policies, laws and a region's culture. Deepa also writes about race, cultures and social justice issues. She has covered a number of other beats ranging from city government to breaking news for the Register since May 2006. She has received fellowships from the International Women's Media Foundation and the International Center for Journalists to report stories about reconciliation, counter-extremism and peace-building efforts around the world. When she is not working, she loves listening to Indian classical music and traveling with her husband and son.

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